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ST. PAUL (WCCO) — Union leaders are speaking out against so-called “desktop raids” at two companies in South St. Paul. They say 100 employees of Twin Cities Tanning and Twin Cities Hide are out of work because they could not provide documents to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Officials with the Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers say ICE is unfairly targeting law-abiding companies that treat their workers well.

“We believe that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is running rogue with taxpayer money,” said Greg Nammacher, secretary-treasurer for SEIU Local 26.

The union leaders claim ICE is veering away from its mission of going after criminals and employers who exploit their workers.

“These workers are paying federal taxes, state taxes and are part of our community,” said Don Seaquist, president of UFCW Local 1189. “Enforcement without immigration reform only succeeds in pushing undocumented workers workers deeper into the shadows, benefiting the most unscrupulous off-the-books employers.”